This was taken during an unplanned trip to attend a relative’s memorial. It’s got me thinking about family, my own childhood and history, and the history of others that has affected me even though I wasn’t there.

I’ve learned a lot about myself over the last three years or so, but I can’t help feeling that the key to deeply understanding myself is locked away inside the head of a person who’d prefer to take her secrets to her grave. And if I’ve learned one thing recently, it’s that the grave may be nearer than you think.

I finished out the term of dance classes but right when I was pretty much ready to take a break for the summer, one of my students had an idea that intrigued me. So I’m starting up another class (with shared teaching duties) soon. Time will tell if I come to regret this. I’ve also started taking a dance class as a student. It’s in a different style and very aerobic, so I’m definitely going to get a workout.

I’ve been feeling a bit better, energy-wise, and I’ve been putting that into my work. Er, and dance, which then leaves me tired. Not sure if there’s a net gain here.

My newest new hobby appears to be decluttering, and as it happens, sorting out my emotional shit has also given me some clarity about the stuff I want or don’t want in my house. Weird but true. And now I’ve found a website to sell my stuff on: people come to my house to take away the things I would have had to junk, recycle or donate, and sometimes I even get money for it! Amazing!

One down side of this is that the spot where I used to take most of my self-portraits now contains a table where I takes photos of my crap to post on that website. It’s a very functional spot in the house, but I’ve sort of lost my studio.

Overall, I’m feeling pretty good though I still wish I had more energy.

Want to see some new photos of me? Read on and see how you can make it happen.

Amy of Coffee and Kink (@CoffeeAndKink) has organised a fundraiser called Smutathon. I’ll let her explain:

Welcome to Smutathon 2017!

We are a group of erotica authors, sex bloggers, sex educators and friends who have decided to raise some money for organisations we believe in.

Smutathon is a 12-hour, intensive sex writing challenge where we get together (some of us in person, some virtually) for 12 hours and WRITE LIKE MAD THINGS and get sponsored for doing so and achieving our targets. We may share some of our writing on our blogs as we go, and we may even publish an e-book anthology at the end.

We’re splitting the money equally between two amazing organisations:

1) BacklashBacklash campaigns for sexual freedom for consenting adults and provides legal support for sexual minorities who are unfairly targeted by outdated and nonsensical “obscenity” laws. Among other things, they have been responsible for getting the ridiculous ‘tiger porn case’ (look it up) struck down, and for campaigning to get amendments added to the Digital Economy Bill to make it less harmful to consenting adults engaging in safe and victimless fringe sexual practices.

2) Rape Crisis England & WalesStats suggest that 1 in 4 women and around 1 in 10 men will experience rape, assault or other form of sexual violence in their life. Rape Crisis is a feminist organisation that exists to promote the needs and rights of women and girls who have experienced sexual violence, to improve services to them and to work towards the elimination of sexual violence. Rape Crisis Centres are women-led and offer a range of support, advocacy, counselling and information, and also have separate services for male survivors.

Please support us in helping these two brilliant causes. Sexual freedom for consenting adults and freedom from sexual violence are human rights.

This is happening today! Donate on the Smutathon 2017 Just Giving page. The charities are UK-based, but if you live elsewhere, don’t let that stop you! Backlash is doing important work against nonsensical UK obscenity laws, and because of recent development in UK law about “obscenity” and the internet, their work will have an effect around the world. All you need is a credit card to make a donation. Easy peasy!

If you make a donation – of any amount – and write “Zoe K” in the donation comment box, I’ll post a sexy photo here!